Epoxy casting

When I was a kid we used to play with the glue bottle in school. No not the white glue in elementary school but a clear glue we were introduced to in about miiddle school age.

It was called RX lim. Came out clear from funny shaped plastic bottles. If you poured some out on a flat surface (like the school desk) it would cure over night and you got a clear plastic mass.
This casting with Epoxy is very similar to that experience....
The product I used for this little beginner's project is called "Easy cast" - clear casting Epoxy and is made by Castin' Craft.

http://www.eti-usa.com/consum/castresn/castresn.htm

You can buy them in most hobby stores or online for ex Dick Blick.
http://www.dickblick.com/products/castincraft-easycast-clear-casting-epoxy/



It is very important to measure the two components equally. Here the actual Resin on the left and the hardener to the right. They recommend that the bottles should feel slightly warm to the touch before pouring (and opening). If not You can warm them up with warm water under the faucet. Whatever you do, be careful not to touch it or get it in your eyes, and read the instructions. I used two plastic containers on which I marked a line at the same spot with a sharpie permanent marker. It is imperative that one pour up 1:1.


Then one mix it, and not just in one container but twice in two containers. Stir with a wood stick. Below is the finished Goo. There might be bubbles but they should go away during the curing time.


Then I sprayed a mold with mold release. I don't know it it's necessary with these plastic premade molds but I did it. These you can also buy almost anywhere they sell Hobby and crafts products.


The plastic is very hard to capture with the camera. It glares a lot and with a flash it reflects or light goes straight through.
From left to right I poured in

• Matsuno purple seed beads
• A turqoise glass marble and silver lined matsuno Seed beads
• A Swarowski Crytal Clear AB Rondell
• White Delica Beads

It takes about 24 hours for the plastic to cure. Meanwhile do not touch it or you will have finger prints on your project. After 48 they are really dried and after 72 hours you can work with them. I actually cut them and things like that after 36 hours or something like that.
Once again incredible difficult to photograph. I thinnk for every picture I put here I have about 10 that came out either blurry or one could not make out the cab at all due to all light going straight through it. The one in the bottom here (with the Swarovski crystal) shows exactly what I mean.